NOTICE TO ALL BADGE COLLECTORS!!

A new Federal Law (HR 4827, Law #106-547), pertaining to badge possession, collecting, and use went into effect on 12/19/2000. The text of the law is below:

ENHANCED FEDERAL SECURITY ACT OF 2000
Sec, 716. Police badges (a) Whoever--- (1) knowingly transfers, transports, or receives in interstate of foreign commerce, a counterfeit police badge (2) knowingly transfers, in interstate or foreign commerce, a genuine police badge to an individual, knowing such is not authorized to possess it under the laws of the place in which the badge is the official badge of the Police; (3) knowingly receives a genuine police badge in a transfer prohibited by paragraph (2); or (4) being a person not authorized to possess a genuine police badge under the law of the place in which the badge is the official badge of the police, knowingly transports a badge in interstate or foreign commerce, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. (b) It is a defense to the prosecution under this section if the badge is used or intended to be used for exclusively--- (1) as a memento, or in a collection or exhibit; (2) for decorative purposes; (3) for a dramatic presentation, such as a theater, film, or television production; or (4) for any other recreational purpose. (c) As used in this section- (1) the term 'genuine police badge' means an official badge issued by public authority to identify an individual as a law enforcement office having police powers; and (2) the term 'counterfeit police badge' means a badge that so resembles a police badge that it would deceive an ordinary individual into being it was a genuine police badge.